Through cricket seasons I’ve enjoyed the commentary of Jim Maxwell, David Lloyd, Michael Holding and especially Richie Benaud.
To that I add the newspaper columns of Dean Jones. They were my favourite part of the Sunday papers. Jones wrote so passionately it was as if he was shouting into your ear in a crowded bar. He critiqued batting, bowling, field placements, coaching, on-field tactics and individual player capability. Jones as a cricket writer was fearless. He expressed views straight from the heart. He got it right nearly every time.
His playing achievements and media position lead me to advocate for a Dean Jones Cup. Jones passed away from a heart attack and this won’t be the last time someone comments on how he was taken at such a young age. But his loss presents us with the possibility of linking, say, a Sheffield Shield match to the Heart Foundation. This provides an opportunity to generate publicity that reminds people of the importance of heart health and check-ups.
(Chris Cole/Allsport)
The annual Shield match between Victoria and New South Wales held at the MCG is the ideal occasion. If any teams in our domestic competition have rivalry, it’s these two. The contest would be played on a ground Jones knew well. After all, he played 35 ODI matches and six Tests there. The MCG was also where Jones made his highest first-class score: 324 against South Australia. The MCG already features a bar named after him.
Possibly a Shield match with this extra meaning may boost the meagre crowd attendances at these games. The pink ribbon Test has certainly struck a positive chord. What I’m suggesting is not unlike the Peter Mac Cup played in the AFL. It even works in a similar way to the Anzac Day match between Essendon and Collingwood.
That match attracts attention to the bravery of our troops, reminding people of their struggle and sacrifice. The match I am advocating can bring attention to heart disease, creating awareness and emphasising the importance of doctor check-ups, exercise and healthy eating.
I’m sure it could be argued there are other Victorian players worthy of recognition by placing their name on a cup. The difference is that Jones lost his life to a condition that we know is one of the leading causes of death in Australia.
Another approach would be to name the match the Heart Foundation Cup. Then a player of the match is selected, receiving an award in Dean Jones’ name. I’m sure players from both teams would be proud and delighted to be part of such an occasion.
Dean Jones has left a wonderful legacy as a player and member of the media. This is a chance to add to that.
Paul
Roar Guru
I still think you should send through your thoughts to CA. You might come up with something they haven't considered.
Peter Farrar
Roar Pro
Thanks for those comments Paul. Your idea about the ODI is a good one and may well have been closer to his heart if he was having a say in this. I thought to run this article and see what the comments were before possibly dropping a line to Cricket Australia. Although I see from The Age there are now plans afoot to recognise him, an ODI player of the year was one of the options being considered. Goodness he is going to be missed, I still can't believe it.
Paul
Roar Guru
hi Peter, I only saw this piece today but think your idea is excellent. Can I offer a couple of suggestions though? I'd have thought either the domestic ODI trophy be named after Jones or a domestic ODI match be both in his honour as well as a fund raiser for the heart foundation? My other thought was to make one of the first three days of the Boxing Day Test a memorial day with events to again help the Heart Foundation? Have you sent your thoughts to Cricket Australia?
All day Roseville all day
Roar Guru
Hi Kerry, NSW and Vic already play for the Keith Miller-Neil Harvey Trophy.
Rellum
Roar Guru
"rather the Domestic"
Peter Farrar
Roar Pro
Thanks Micko. Given the circumstances of Jones' death and the number of lives lost through this condition, I saw it as a way of building awareness and education that may save lives...whilst celebrating Dean Jones' sporting career. I don't believe there is an excess of these types of events. In any case I'm noticing in today's media there seems to be other plans around recognising his life. Will see what eventuates.
Peter Farrar
Roar Pro
Totally fine with that Rellum. Apparently there's some plans to recognise his career underway, probably during the Boxing Day test if that goes ahead.
Peter Farrar
Guest
Fair enough Dave, and perhaps Dean had no inkling he had this problem. The main point of this would be to encourage people who have never considered a check up to see a doctor, whilst at the same time recognising the achievements of Dean Jones. Having on site blood pressure tests at the match might be going a bit far! I take your point there could be other causes worthy of something like this. For me the thing was that as his death came about from a heart condition, the match would be linked to that specific topic. I see in today's media there is discussion on how to recognise his achievements in some way, not necessarily what I suggested.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I would rathet the fomestic one day cup or BBL player of the year win the Dean Jones medal.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Nice idea about having some memorial event or trophy for Jones given his long term contributions. Maybe linking to heart foundation or similar is not a bad idea, if it helps raise awareness about checkups. I do have a slight difficulty with national organisations picking and choosing charities for fundraising as opposed to awareness raising goals, even ones like the much lauded McGrath foundation: people tend to have a finite amount of funds they are likely to donate to charities as a whole. So you in fact end up intervening in a competition between different charitable causes. But which is more worthy. Maybe causes in poorer countries have intrinsically greater need? But linked to awareness aims, it’s a good thing. But I wonder here, as an aside, is there any word whether Jones had any health reasons to be concerned about heart failure, or it was just one of those incredibly unexpected and unlucky cases, coming out of the blue?
Kerry Smith
Guest
Great idea, Shield match between Vic & NSW, the Dean Jones Cup
Micko
Roar Rookie
No offence, but do we have to continually hijack sports events and matches with these seemingly never ending causes as some instant knee jerk reaction when someone famous dies or suffers some debilitating condition? People live and die, that’s what happens to us as humans. Dennis Lillee will die one day. Shane Warne will too. Do we immediately demand something about them once they die too? Can we just honour and respect Dean Jones without specifically demanding something as some “cause” we need to shoehorn into some sports event/fixture? :unhappy: